Welcome to your metal pitstop! Where METAL still stems from hard rock and up to pre-2000s extreme metal - a site supporting the bands today that still value and respect such metallic ideologies, and barring those that do not! Explore record reviews, articles, short-fiction, in-depth interviews, and much more. This is a site governed by a relentless metal fanatic, for people of the same obsessions. Enjoy.

*This list is not necessarily comprised of current, new releases - though some "Destructive Dozen" picks will almost surely be of a current crop, due to the excitement of new metal being released. This is merely what I, The Ed., am kicking on this month. Consequently, I'd recommend any of these releases to anyone who's interested enough to be reading my little publication.

Now available on CD and in digital format - Lord Sar's multi-genre opus of madness, regret, revenge, and perseverance. An ode to defeating personal demons through a sonic arsenal of cacophonous conflict. (For fans of Gnaw Their Tongues, Mercyful Fate, Fields Of The Nephilim, and Mayhem.) Purchase your copy HERE

The diabolical and agonizing split of black destruction between Ecorche, The Abysmal Gate, and Sar Nath is deadly! There's still a few of these "Torture" digipaks left HERE

Album Spotlight:

DENNER/SHERMANN - MASTERS OF EVIL

Basically another form of Mercyful Fate, just King-less. And, as much of a devout Diamond-Banger as I am, you'd think I would boycott this. But, no way.

It IS a different project, and the more triumphant, proud-to-be-evil, almost playful vibe Sean Peck lends the material nails that point home. It's a highbrow occult metal offering, no doubt. However (due to another certain fanboy-ism), as good as it is, I'm left wishing Snowy was singing and Sean knew how to play drums...

The Grim Tower <---Check 'em out.One of the few online publications that has supported Shadowlights thus far. Thanks, Grim Ones!

Here, have a FB quote from The Ed:

"When one's goal is to find the least known, purest, most undiluted, rawest, unadulterated music out there, you aren't just simply brainwashed by the mainstream to just like any scrap you're thrown...and the only mainstream you enjoy ends up being so because it's the best and you can't help yourself.

This is why an 'elitist' acts like he knows his shit. It's not popularity he hates. There's big bands in his player. It's just that he has So MUCH HONEST AND REAL MUSIC to compare it to. And if a semi-'good' (i.e. "acceptable") corporate band slips by us...this is also why we ain't cryin' for missing out."

By the way, dear readers...I know these convos on social networks can get rough...even virtually bloody. Feel free to quote your friendly neighborhood Sar Nath if it helps. But it probably won't. A trendy fool is a trendy fool.

An Image of Avulsed, just for always killin' it!!!

Bruce is doin' FINE! Up The Irons!!!!

Meanwhile:

Lot's of merch (as seen above) and more available at the following link:

The arduous, nearly impossible, tap-your-forehead-till-it-bleeds taskof coming up with 100 (+1...+runners up..haha!) integral albums I couldn't live without, or wouldn't beME, had I never encountered them.My "deserted island" playlist, if you get me.

One of the most difficult things a metal -freakcould ever try and do.<---CLICK HERE